Black PantherA New Dawn for Black Talent in Cinema?

WORDS Moriyo Aiyeola

Earlier this year, hordes of comic book fans and mainstream audiences gathered to watch Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War. So far, it’s been the highest grossing film of the year, making over a billion US dollars worldwide. However, there was the introduction of a character, who pounced majestically onto screen, sending comic book fans into a frenzy of excitement – Black Panther.

If you understand the immense pop cultural impact of Marvel at the moment, there is a general consensus amongst movie-goers that whatever the studio produces will be thoroughly enjoyed, if not loved. As Marvel enters ‘Phase 3’ of its releases scheduled for the next few years, it can be assured that it has built up and secured an audience from all the success they enjoyed throughout ‘Phase 1’ and ‘Phase 2’ with releases such as Iron Man,The Avengers and the Captain America trilogy.

It’s almost as if the studio can do no wrong.

Therefore, when Marvel announced they were releasing a standalone Black Panther film for 2018, there was immediate buzz. Featuring a black superhero from the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda, the film is made up of 90% black talent, including the likes of lead star Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyongo and Michael B Jordan.

Recently, Hollywood has been plagued by controversy surrounding the limited opportunities given to actors from minority backgrounds. Awards recognition, choice of roles and representation in the business have all been highlighted as areas of contention, culminating earlier this year with the 2016 Academy Awards where all the major categories were largely absent of people of colour – despite there being a series of well-received films throughout the year involving minority talent. Therefore, this new Black Panther film is seen as a positive advancement, as a Marvel film with a black, superhero protagonist.

The representation of African and African American actors has been a controversial area. Since the earliest films such as The Birth of a Nation to later beloved classics like Gone with the Wind, black actors have suffered from parts that pigeon hole them into roles reflecting their positions in society. The portrayal of the only two black female characters in Gone with the Wind is enough to make any viewer cringe. John Patterson, film writer for the Guardian, wrote of the two actresses, ‘Hattie McDonald and Butterfly McQueen…, two wonderfully gifted performers, are the same stereotypical maids they played in every other movie they made.’

Even though black actors are no longer limited to play only dim, dependent slaves and maids, there are still problems with range of character. When 12 Years a Slave picked up the major awards at the 2014 Academy Awards, it once again continued the trend of rewarding black talent for films tending to be about slavery or biopics, normally set during the Civil Rights era. There is certainly room for more black actors to get recognition. The chance to play interesting, original, complex characters often enjoyed by their white counterparts is seriously lacking.

The chance to play interesting, original, complex characters often enjoyed by their white counterparts is seriously lacking.

However what is particularly interesting about Marvel’s Black Panther is its early prediction to be a success despite the film being dominated by minority talent. It contrasts the early levels of misogyny, and predictions of failure that the new version of Ghostbusters experienced when it was announced the four leads would be all female. Since its release in July, Ghostbusters has since proved a general financial success despite the film being received with mediocre reviews. However, the fact that Black Panther is predicted to do well could prove a positive advancement for black talent in the future.

South African film critic Stephen ‘Spling’ Aspelingoffered his thoughts about whether Black Panther could really influence significant change in the film industry.

‘If this film is a genuine mainstream success, there will be no excuses for more films without a stronger representation of black talent… Marvel films have a loyal, tried-and-tested audience, which means there’s no excuse for Black Panther not to perform.’

Is there a risk that Black Panther could fall into the mediocre barrel of previous black superheroes that failed to truly make an impact? ‘Nick Fury was a nice gesture, Hancock was a muddle, Storm and War Machine haven’t really amounted to much more than glorified sidekicks, which means Blade is probably the biggest black superhero and franchise success to date. There are still many black Marvel superheroes that could get their own films and Black Panther could open the flood gates.’

And there have certainly been some recent rays of hope for talent emerging. Black Panther is being helmed by African American director Ryan Coogler, who many consider to be one of the best and promising young directors working today. After his debut with Fruitvale Station and last year’s critically acclaimed Creed, he insinuates that Black Panther will not only deliver improved opportunities for black talent but also dish up a quality film at the same time.

Gil Robertson, President of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), an organisation that seeks to promote African and African American talent in the film industry, also believes Ryan Coogler could bring something special. ‘My hope is that the below-the-line crew be equally as strong with black talent technicians and creatives. Ryan is definitely the man to see to that.’

The AAFCA work actively to encourage increased black representation in the industry and Robertson remains confident that audiences are willing to accept and turn out for content that truly embraces the cultural diversity of America. ‘Black talent be it in music, sports or TV is PROVEN. Film presents the final frontier for our aesthetic to be celebrated throughout the world as it should be… From our annual Awards Show that celebrates the best in cinema, to our year-long programmes that focus on developing skills sets and other opportunities for blacks who wish to enter the industry, AAFCA is on the front lines to move the agenda forwards for black creative professionals, as well as those on the tech and business side.’

There is certainly still a long way to go. While things are definitely improving, and Black Panther is a testament to this, the figures speak for themselves. African Americans account for 12.5% of the US population but film studio heads were 94% white and 100% male. Even film studio unit heads are 96% white 74% male. Ava DuVernay, director of critically acclaimed Selma is one of a handful of female black directors working today and an example of how black women are being offered even less opportunities in the film industry. She herself has claimed she is part of a ‘small sorority’ of female, black film directors in the industry against an overwhelmingly white majority.

If there is less representation from the top of the industry, it only means less encouragement and interest in promoting the advancement of people of colour. Black Panther is a real opportunity to prove that audiences and fans are willing to turn out to support potentially great films that are dominated by minorities.